German Expressionism in film was a creative movement in the early 20th century. It focused on the artist’s inner emotions rather than showing film realism.
This movement is present in all art forms, including writing, dance, and painting. What made this movement stand out was its unique dream-like stories.
These films had a huge effect on the future of film. They changed how people viewed film as an art form and inspired many modern film directors. Below, you will learn everything you need to know about German Expressionism, including a breakdown of the definition and examples.
What is Expressionism?
Expressionism is an art movement that began with writing and painting in the early 1920s after World War I in response to changing lifestyles and struggles. In all art forms, this movement is about dreams, emotions, and movement, in contrast to realism, which tells real-life stories about real people.
The most famous example of expressionism is the painting The Scream by Edvard Munch. This iconic image shows a man on a bridge holding his hands to his face as he screams. The painting is about anxiety and mental illness. Its lack of realism is what makes it expressionistic.
This style was popular in the 1920s and 1930s, ending before World War II. During this time, it spread across the world and was the leading art style. The main contributor to art expressionism was Germany, which at the time was also the center of the film industry.
What is German Expressionism?
At the start of the 20th century, Germany was the world center of filmmaking. Silent cinema made selling films worldwide easier because there was no language barrier.
However, in the 1920s, Germany started to isolate itself from the world, and by 1921, it had banned all overseas films. As a result, there was a big demand for home filmmaking. German Expressionism in film spread from 24 films in 1914 to 130 films in 1921.
In 1931 the Nazis gained power, and many German filmmakers moved to Hollywood, causing an end to the movement. This movement had a big impact on the history of cinema. In particular, it created horror films and allowed filmmaking to grow as an art form.
German Expressionism Elements
German Expressionism is an early cinema movement with a distinctive style. Overall, it’s the visual elements that make these films stand out compared to other silent films. Let’s explore these elements in detail and include examples for each.
Set Design
One important part of German Expressionism in film is the mise en scene. The stage design and backdrops in these films are highly distinctive. They feature warped rooms, busy painted backdrops, and painted skylines, in contrast to realism, which would shoot on real-life locations.
German filmmakers avoided natural designs, instead using harsh shapes and unnatural colors. Stage designers first created these style sets for theatres before working in film. One good example of this set design is in the film The Cabinet of Dr Caligari (1920).
Lighting
The German filmmakers also created a new style of lighting called chiaroscuro, which took inspiration from Renaissance art. This style is high contrast, low-key, and has distinct shadows. By using this style, you can create more distinct, artistic images.
Later, when German filmmakers came to Hollywood, they brought with them high-contrast lighting. This lighting style can be found in films throughout the 1930s and 1940s, for example, in many of the early films by British filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock.
Dutch Angles
Dramatic camera angles are also a theme in German Expressionism. In particular, the Dutch angle, which is when you tilt the camera to the side, can express the emotions and inner turmoil of your characters, such as madness, unease, and confusion.
German Expressionism frequently uses this shot. However, these days, it is only used for special shots. A good example of Dutch angles is in the silent horror film Nosferatu (1922). In this film, the Dutch angle shows the character’s fear and distress.
Subject Matter
German Expressionism in film also explored dark subject matter, in particular, themes such as murder, crime, madness, and horror. Before this time, film stories were simple and more straightforward. However, after World War I, cinema was more open to taking risks. One German Expressionism film that explores a range of dark themes is Metropolis (1927).
German Expressionism Film Examples
Despite the movement’s only 20 years, there are hundreds of German Expressionism films. Some of these films are very famous and helped define cinematic storytelling. Let’s look at some of the key examples of this movement.
The Cabinet of Dr Caligari (1920)
Our first German Expressionism film example is also arguably the first horror film ever made. Directed by Robert Wiene, it’s about a man who controls a sleepwalker. The style throughout is very typical of this movement, creating a dreamlike effect in contrast to realism.
The set design in this film stands out the most, with jagged landscapes, tiled walls, and windows. Everything in the film is titled, including the use of the Dutch angle. This shows the inner world of the sleepwalker and creates a surreal effect.
Nosferatu (1922)
After the success of The Cabinet of Dr Caligari, German filmmakers made many horror films during the 1920s. Most notably, by director F.W. Murnau, Nosferatu is a loose take on Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula. It follows the evil Count Orlok, who scares visitors in his castle.
The film has many scenes that stay true to the horror theme. One of them is when Nosferatu walks down a hallway, casting shadows against the wall. In addition to using high-contrast lighting, the film deals with dark themes such as madness and war.
Metropolis (1927)
Next, we have a German science fiction film about a city in the future. The film explores themes of social issues, capitalism, and mass production. Director Fritz Lang shot the film over 17 months, and at the time, it was the most expensive film ever made.
The film is known for its grand set design and art deco style. One of its iconic images is a robot woman overlooking the city. The filmmakers also use high-contrast lighting and Dutch angles throughout, making it a great example of German Expressionism in film.
M (1931)
Lastly, we have another film by Fritz Lang. M is about the police chasing a serial killer across Germany. The film explores many dark themes, such as murder, madness, fear, and suffering. In many ways, it mirrors the reality of living in Germany at the time.
This film falls within German Expressionism because it uses unique shots and high-contrast lighting. Throughout the film, glass and reflective surfaces show the action. In addition, the film is also one of the first examples of thriller and film noir.
German Expressionism Impact
German Expressionism in film has greatly impacted cinema throughout the 20th century. When German filmmakers moved to Hollywood, they brought their unique shooting and lighting style and the new film genres of horror, thriller, and film noir.
Today, we can still see the impact of German expressionism in modern cinema, particularly in movies like David Lynch’s Eraserhead (1977) and Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands (1990). Thanks to this movement, filmmakers today have more creative freedom.
Wrapping Up
To sum up, German Expressionism was an art movement in the 1920s and 1930s. The movement resulted from the aftermath of World War I, when artists throughout Europe wanted to express themselves.
Germany started to churn out surreal and horror films during this time. However, many German filmmakers moved to Hollywood at the start of World War II. As a result, this art movement had a high impact on Hollywood and many films we watch today.
